Governing mechanism for elastic-fluid turbines.



PATENTED JUNE 5, 1906.

' -E. THOMSON. GOVERNING MECHANISM FOR ELASTIC FLUID TURBINBS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 30.1905.

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I I Inventor; 'Elihu Thomson,

PATBNTED JUNE 5, 1906.

v E. THOMSON. GOVERNING MECHANISM FOR ELASTIC FLUID TURBINES.

APPLICATION FILED SBPT.30,1905.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2 \Nitnesses: Ihvento R Elihu Thomson,

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PATENTED JUNE 5, 1906. E. THOMSON.

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GOVERNING MECHANISM FOR ELASTIC FLUID TURBINES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 30.1905.

Witnesses:

No. 822,324. PATENTED JUNE5, 1906.

E. THOMSON.

GOVERNING MECHANISM FOR ELASTIC FLUID TURBINES. c

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 30.1905.

B-SHEETS-SHEET 4,

Fig 4.

Witnesses:

No. 822,324. PATENTED JUNE 5, 1906. B. THOMSON. GOVERNING MECHANISM FOR ELASTIC FLUID TURBINES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.30,1905.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5 lllllh ByW v o4 ht y.

I "I 'nQentor", Elihu. Thcr'nsoh,

PATENTED JUNE 5, 1906.

' E. THOMSON. GOVERNING MECHANISM FOR ELASTIC FLUID TURBINES.

APPLICATION FILED SBPT.30.1905.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

Witnesses:

Ihventor Elihu Thomson,

'. Q g i ditty ELIHU THOMSON, OF SWAMPSCOTT, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO GEN- ERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY,

A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

GOVERNING MECHANISM FOR ELASTiC-FLUID TURBINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J une 5 i 906.

Application filed September 30, 1905. Serial No. 280.764.

To all w/w'nb it party concern:

Be it known that LELIIIU TnoMsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Swampscott, county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Governing Mechanisms for Elastic-Fluid Turbines, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to governing mechanisms for elastic-fluid turbines, and more especially to those mechanisms wherein the controlling-valves are successively actuated by hydraulic pressure.

The present invention has for its object to provide a governing mechanism of improved construction, which will effectively control the admission of motive fluid to a turbine by varying its volume without varying its velocity.

In carrying out my invention as many nozzle-valves are provided as are necessary to control the passage of motivefluid through the turbine. These valves may admit fluid to the turbine, or they may control the passage of motive fluid from one stage to another in a multistage-turbine, or some ofthe valves may be employed for admitting lluid and others for regulating the passage of fluid between stages. Each valve is actuated by a hydraulic motor comprising asuitable piston and cylinder, and the admission of fluid under pressure to each of the several motors is con trolled by a pilot-valve, and these pilotvalves are in turn actuated by a speed-responsive device or other means. Under ordinary conditions of operation a shaft, governor is provided that is'mounted directly on or connected to the main shaft of the turbine, and between it and. the pilot-valves is a connection whereby the latter may be operated one after the other both in opening and closing in order that the nozzlevalves may open and close successively the load on the turbine varies. When for any reason it is desired to multiply the ower or the motion between the piston of a hydraulic motor and a nozzle-valve, a suitable lever is provided that is pivotally supported by a stationary part of the turbine and is connected to. the nozzle-valve and the piston of the motor.

Suitably mounted with respect to the motors is a pump of suitable construction-for example, of the plunger type.which is constant kept in motion at any predetermined I l 1 i rate and discharges fluid'in a pulsatory manner as distingushed from a continuous flow. By preference the pump is driven "through suitable speed reducing gearing from the main shaft of the turbine, since in this manner ample power is available at all times, and the parts can be made relatively compact. The pump preferably has sullicient capacity to open one or more of the valves at a time in order to compensate for substantial load changes. Since the pump is constantly in operation and the pistons of the motors are normally stationary, either in a position to hold the nozzle-valves open or closed, it follows that some means must be provided to take care of the pulsatory discharge of the pump when it is urmecessary to move one or more of the valves. For this purpose I provide an accumulator which may be constructed in a variety of ways. F or example, it may be of the dead-weight type, or a tank containing a body of elastic fluid under an ini tial pressure, or it may contain an abutment, which is constantly urged in one direction by a spring. The last-mentioned arrangement is very desirable on account of its extreme simplicity.

Where the nozzle-valves are unbalanced and have a tendency to at all'times close, this tendency may be utilized inclosing them; but where the valves are unbalanced and have a tendency to remain open I'employ springs or equivalent means for closing them. These springs may be located inside of the cylinder of each of the motors and act on the piston therein or they may be arranged to ,act on the valves directly or through their actuating means. Preferably the springs are located outside of the steam-space.

The cylinders of all of the motors are connected to the high pressure side of the pump 1 and in circuit with the accumulator, the latter being common to all of themotors. The cylinders are also connected to the low-pressure side of the pump, and the connection is so arranged that a given level may be constantly maintained in the cylinders of the motors. A conduit'also connects the accumulator with the pump-chamber, so as to return any fluid to the system which may leak past the movable abutment.

My invention is particularly applicable to turbines having a plurality of regulatingvalves. It can, however, be applied to turbines'having only one valve 'which'is pul-' ure 1 is'a view in artial elevation, with oer-- tam of the parts roken away, of the valve I mechanisma plied to a vertical-shaft turbme-of the urtis type. Fig. 2 is a lan 4 'view of the=mechanism with certain o the parts of the turbine in section. Fig.3 is an enlarged section taken Online 3 3of- Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail view-showing the motors for operating the valves," together with the pilotvalves that control the motors. Fig. 5 is' a detailview illustrating the-connection between the shaft-governor =and theilotvalves 0f the motors.

6 is a detai sectional' view of the pum "and the spring weighted accumulator. *tion on line 7 7 of Fig. 4. Fig.8 is a detail view of a modified arrangementmore espe go ciall intended for turbines having only a sing e nozzle-valve. Fig. 9 is a vertical sec.-' tion-taken on line 9 9 of Fig. 10. Fi 10 is a cross-section taken online 10 10 o Fig. 8,

11 11 0 Fig. 8.

; 12 represents the casing of a vertical-shaft turbine of the'Gurtis type.

however, is applicable to turbines of other 1 construction, either of thejet or other types. Mounted on top of the turbine is 'a'generator 13, the revoiving element of which is-earriedby the=upri ht turbine-driven shaft 14. The

'upperend o thegenerator is. provided'with a dome 15, that 'incloses a shaft-governor 16. 5 Pivotally supported by'the' dome is'a lever zlefvalvesb Each valve is provided with astem that extends through a suitable stuffingbox and is connected toa lever 20. "These levers are PIVOtGd on one side of the valvethe hydraulic motors.

:21 represents a pum of the 'reciprocatin plunger type that supp iesthe necessary fluid under pressure to actuate the motors.

22 represents the high-pressure or supply pipe, and 23 the low-pressure or-return pipe.-

Connected to the high-pressure pi e is an ac which will 1 multistage-turbine is shown with each stage Referrmg to Fig.2; the arrangement of the I cumulator 24fthe' construction 0 be described later.- J

ig. 7 is a cross-see and 'Fi 1-1 is a cross-'section'take'n on line The' invention,

\ 17, that transmits motion from the shaft "governor to the pilot-valves of the motors chest and are connected to thepiston-'rods ofw s. s

or the ump, will be readily seen. 14 represents t e main shaft of the turbine-,a and mounted thereon is aspiral-gear 25, the latter beingsitua'ted just below the middle orguide bearing and inclosed by a suitable casing. Meshing with the gear 25 is a pinion 26 onthe horizontal shaft 27. The left-hand end of driving: the'plunger of the-pump. 1

Referring now to Fig. 3, the construction and arrangement of the mechanism employed for actuating each of thenozzle-valves will be described, it being understood that. all of the valves and their'actuating mechanisms 'are similar in construction.

the steam or valve chest; contairring'axplur'ality of nozzle-valves 29, each valve being suitabl guided in its vertical movement. *The va ve-chest is'made in sections and the several sectionsbolted together. By: reason of this arrangement it is a comparatively simple matter to' changelth'esize ofthe chest.

' The valvestem' 30 extends throughthe per wall of'the steam chest and 1s suita y packed to'prevent leakage. "-The upper end of the valve-stem is connected to-th'e horizon- 'tal lever 20 bya in-and slotnconnection. The lever is'pivotal y attached to=a bracket 31, that is bolted 'to the side of the valvechest." Situated at the-right of-the'. valvechest is a hydraulic motor comprisingla cylinder 32, supported by the head of t him, and a reciprocating piston 33; Situated above the-piston and tending at all times to force it downward and close the valve is a coil compression-spring 34. The piston-rod 35 passes .througha suitable packing and is "connected at its outerend by a in-and-slot connection with-thelever 20. luid under pressurefrom -the'purnp is su plied to the motor bythe conduit .22, and-t epassage of fluid thec iylinder is controlled by the pilotvalve 36. he outer end of the stand the pilot-valve is provided with a-gear 37 Figs. )3 and 5, that meshes with alrack 38ythe latater bein reeiprocated by a bell-crank lever 39' and ink 18,, 'Fi's. '2- and 5. Fluid from 'the assage 40,:leadir'1g to a nozzle orother fiui -discharging device, by the nozzle-valve,

41. *The valves may be so arranged that a quires two or more strokes ofth'e ump t0. fully open them,'in which case a sllg t throtlac'e. Situated below the nozzle 41 and in ine therewith are buckets 42 carried by the wheel 43, mounted on'the mainshaft. In tbsp-resent illustration of-my invention a provided with two rows of wheel-buckets, be-

the shaft is provided with an eccentric 28 for single stroke ofthe pump will cause-them to open, or they-'may be so arrangednthatit-re- 'tling iaction ofthe Lmotive fluid :may take arts, together 'w-ith the driving mechanism- 7 19 represents e tur- I the valve-chest is .a mitted to or cut off-from the said passage-"being arranged to :supply one or more sections of a sectional-i zedinozzle tween which are located stationary intermediate buckets 44 for reversing the direction of steam or other elastic fluid in passing from one row of wheel-buckets to the other. Instead of using two sets of wheel-buckets per stage a greater or less numbermay be emloyed, depending upon the requirements.

he nozzle 41 is shown as being of the expanding-type; but it is within the scope of my invention to use a non-expanding nozzle or other fluid-discharging devices and either associate them closely or space them apart, as desired.

Referring to Fig. 4, I have shown three motors with their pilot-valves; but it is to be understood that a greater or less number of motors can be employed, accordin to the requirements. These motors are s own as being located in the same plane; but it is evident that they can be located in different planes, and, in fact, one of the great advantages of my improved governing mechanism resides in the fact that these motors can be placed wherever most convenient and connected by suitable piping to the pump and accumulator. In this respect the arrangement is exceedingly flexible, and it is a simple matter to install or take off one of the motors and thevalve-actuating mechanism. In this figure the piston of the left-hand motor is in its lowest position, which means that the nozzle-valve actuated thereby is closed. The piston of the central motor is in a midposition, which means that the nozzle-valve actuated thereby is partially open, and the piston of the right-hand motor is shown in its extreme upper position, which means that the nozzle-valve actuated thereby is wide open. Fluid is supplied to the motors by the high-pressure pipe 22, leading from the pump. The pilot-valve 45 of the left-hand motor is in such a position that fluid is permitted to escape from the under side of the piston to the vertically-extending passage 46 that communicates with the upper'end of the cylinder and with the return and equalizing pipe 23. The pilot-valve 36 of the middle motor is so positioned by the shaft-governor that fluid under pressure is permitted to flow from the pipe 22 through the chamber 48, thence through the passage in the valve into the cylinder-space below the piston. With the pilot-valve in this position the vertical passage 46 is closed. Each downward stroke of the pump-plunger will cause the piston to be raised, and during the suction-stroke the compression-spring will force the piston downward, and in this manner an opening and closing or pulsating effect will be given the nozzle-valve actuated by the motor. The pilot-valve 49 ofthe right-hand motor is so positioned by the'governor that fluid from j the supply-pipe 22 can pass through the bottom 0 amber 48, through the passage in the valve, and past the spring check-valve 50 to the under side of the piston. When the pilot-valve is thus arranged and the plunger of the pump is of such capacity that it requires more than a single stroke to-open the valve, the first discharge-stroke of the pump will cause a certain amount of fluid to pass to the under side of the piston through the check-valve 50, the latter serving to prevent the passage of fluid in the opposite direction. The .next discharge-stroke of the pump-plunger will raise the piston an additional amount, and so on until the piston ismoved to the position shown, where it engages a stop 51, formed on the under side of the cylinderhead. With'the valve in this position the bypass 46 is closed. Ordinarily, however,

I prefer to make the capacity of the pump such that a single discharge-stroke is sufficient to raise a motor-piston and fullyopen a nozzle-valve and in this manner prevent throttling of the motive fluid. Assuming that the load increases, the governor will move the pilot-valve 36 of the central motor to the same position as that of the right-hand pilot-valve 49, and at or about the same time the pilot-valve 45 will assume the position now occupied by the valve 36. This means that there will be two nozzle-valves open and the third valve opening and closing in synchronism with the strokes of the pump. In event of the amount of fluid discharged by the pump in a given stroke being greater than that required to actuate one or more of the motor-pistons the balance will flow into the accumulator and cause the abutment therein to rise and fall. I may so arrange the accumulator that when the pressure below the abutment exceeds a certain amount the latter will permit a certain amount of the fluid to be by-passed back to the pump or to a receiver connected therewith.

Referring to Figs. 6 and 7, the construction and arrangement of the pump and the accumulator will be described. The pump comprises a cylinder 52, that is attached to the head of the turbine or other suitable support, and a reciprocating piston 53, connected by the rod 54 to the fork 55, the latter being attached to the eccentric-strap surrounding the eccentric of the shaft 27, Fig. 2. Lo-

cated within the piston is a spring-actuated valve 56, which closes on the dischargestroke and opens moreor less on the suctionwith theapparatus which I now consider to represent t e best embodiment thereof; but I desire to have it'understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative and that the invention can be carried out by equivalent means.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a governing mechanism for elasticfluid turbines, the combination of a regulating-valve, a hydraulic motor for operating the valve, a constantly-running pump which supplies the fluid for actuating the motors, and an accumulator that receives the fluid discharged by the pump after the regulatingvalve is moved to a given position.

2. In a governing mechanism for elasticfluid turbines, the combination of a regulating-valve, a hydraulic motor, a lever for transmitting motion from the hydraulic motor to the valve, a constantly-running pump that supplies fluid to the motor for actuating it, and an accumulator that is permanently connected to the discharge side of the pump and receives fluid after the motor is actuated.

3. In a governing mechanism for elasticfluid turbines, the combination of two or more regulating-valves, a hydraulic motor for actuating each of the regulating-valves, a constantly-running pump that supplies fluid under pressure for actuating the motors, an accumulator in circuit with the pump that is common to the motors, and pilot-valves controlling the action of the motors and the reg' ulating-valves'.

4. In a governing mechanism for elasticfluid turbines, the combination of a regulating-valve, a hydraulic motor for actuating the valve, a pump having a pulsating discharge which vibrates the valve in synchronism with its strokes. and a pilot-valve controlling the actionrof the pump on the plunger.

5. In a governing mechanism, the combination of a regulator, a hydraulic motor for actuating it, a pump having a pulsating discharge for actuating the motor, a pilot-valve which regulates the pulsating action of the pump on the motor, and a device for moving the pilot-valve. p

6. In a governing mechanism, the combination of a regulator, a hydraulic motor for actuating it, a pump having a pulsating discharge for actuating the motor, a check-valve between the pump and the motor,'a pilotvalve which regulates the action of the ump on the motor, and a speed-responsive evice for moving the pilot-valve.

7. In a governing mechanism for elasticfluid turbines, the combination of a plurality of regulating-valves, a hydraulic motor for actuatin each of the regulating-valves,v a source 0 hydraulic ressure which is fluctuating in its nature, or actuating the motors,

and pilot-valves for controlling the action of the pulsating source of pressure on the motors.

8. In a governing mechanism for elasticfluid turbines, the combination of a plurality of regulating valves, a separate motor for actuating each valve, a source of fluid under pressure that is fiuctuating'in its nature, pilotvalves for regulating the action of said source on the motors, and a speed-responsive device for adjusting the pilot-valves so that one or more of the regulating-valves will be in the open position, one or more closed and one valve opening and closing in accordance with the pulsations of the said source.

9. In a governing mechanism for elasticfluid turbines, the combination of a regulator, a hydraulic motor for actuating the regulator, a source of fluid under pressure which is fluctuating in its nature for actuating the motor, and a means that determines whether or not the motor shall vibrate with the fluctuation in pressure of the source of power.

10. In a governingmechanism for elasticfluid turbines, the combination of a regulat ing device, a motor for actuating the device, and a source of fluid under pressure which makes a predetermined number of fluctuations in pressure per unit of time, the motor and source being so arranged that the former is caused to vibrate in accordance with fluctuations in pressure of the source.

11. In a governing mechanism for turbines, the combination of an unbalanced regulatingvalve, a source of fluid for moving the valve in one direction, the pressure of which fluctuates, a spring for moving the valve in the opposite direction, and a means for controllmg the efiective action of the said source on the valve.

12. In a governing mechanism for turbines,

' the combination of an unbalanced regulatingvalve, a source of fluid for moving the valve in one direction, the pressure of which fluctuates, a spring for moving the valve in the opposite direction, a means for controlling theeiiective action of the said source on the valve, and an accumulator in circuit between the source of supply and the valve.

13. Ina governing mechansim for turbines, the combination of a regulating-valve, a hydraulically-actuated motor, a lever for transmitting motion from the motor to the valve,

a pulsating source of fluid for the motor, a pilot valve for regulating the effective action of the said source on the motor, and a speed-responsive device that adjusts the pilotvalve as the load changes.

14. In a governing mechanism for turbines, the combination of a plurality of regulatingvalves, a pulsating source of flu1d for actuating the motors, and a'means mtermedlate the said source and motors arranged to hold one or more valves open and to permit one or more valves to vibrate from the closed to the open position in accordance with the pulsations of the said source.

15. In a governing mechanism for turbines, the combination of a plurality of re l-ating valves, a motor for actuating eaci of the valves, .a pum having .a pulsating delivery for actuatlng t iie valves one after the other, valve mechanism between the pump and the motors arranged to hold one or more valves in the open position and. permit one or more valves to'vibrate in synchronism with the strokes of the pump, and a speed-responsive device thatcontrols the action ofthe sald valve mechanism. J.

16. In a governingmechanism for turbines, the combination of a plurality of re latingvalves, a motor for actuating eac of the valves, a pulsating source offluid for actuating. the motors, a means intermediate the said source and motors arranged to hold one or more valves open and to permit one or more valves to vibrate from the closed to the open position in accordance with the pulsations of the said source, and an accumulator in 01-1- suit with the source which receives" when the regulating-valvesare held in a given pos1-' tion. i a 1 17. In a governing mechanism for turbines, the comblnation of aplurality of re gul tii r valves, a motor for actuating eac' of the valves, a pum having a pulsating delivery for actuating t e valves one afterthe other, valve mechanism between thep mp and the motors arranged tohold oneor moreva'lves in theopen position andpermitoneor more valves to vibrate in synchronism withft he strokes of the pump, a speed-responsive device that controls the actlon of the said valve mechanism, and an accumulator in circuit with the pump and the motors which receives fluid from the pump when its action does not affect the motors.

In witness whereof Ihave hereunto setmy I hand this 28th day ofSe tember, 1905.

' EL iHU THOMSON.

Witnesses:

JOHN A. MCMANUS, J-r., HENRY. O. WESTENDARP. 

